Key Scripture:
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24 (KJV)
Introduction
Beloved, today we are going to unpack one of the most overlooked blessings we often miss: the present moment.
We are often caught between two strong forces:
- The pull of the past, filled with regrets, shame, and nostalgia.
- The pressure of the future, filled with anxiety, ambition, and uncertainty.
But what if I told you that God moves most powerfully not in the “what was” or “what might be,” but in the “what is”?
Today’s message is titled “The Gift of Now: Living Fully in God’s Present.”
1. The Present Is a Divine Gift
The word “present” is a reminder that it is a gift.
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
Matthew 6:11 (KJV)
God designed life to be lived one day at a time. He provides for today. Not tomorrow’s strength and not yesterday’s mercies, but today’s provision.
When we live fully present, we walk in rhythm with God’s grace. Lamentations 3:23 says:
“His mercies are new every morning.”
Each day is a reset. Each moment brings a fresh outpouring. Why? Because God does not recycle mercies. He custom makes them for today.
2. Jesus Valued the Moment
Look at how Jesus lived.
He was never in a rush. Yet, He was never late.
- He paused to speak with the woman at the well.
- He noticed Zacchaeus in the tree.
- He wept with Mary and Martha.
- He touched the leper when others passed by.
Jesus was always present.
He was not distracted. He was not preoccupied with tomorrow’s cross while healing today’s wound. He fully lived each moment as sacred.
We must learn to do the same.
3. The Present Represents Trust
Living in the moment is not laziness. It is trust.
“Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.”
Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
Jesus is not saying to be careless. He is saying to be filled with faith.
When we stress about the future, we are saying, “God, I’m not sure You’ll be there.”
When we dwell in the past, we are saying, “God, what You did wasn’t enough.”
But when we embrace today, we say,
“God, I trust You now. I trust You here. I trust You fully.”
4. The Present Is Where God’s Presence Dwells
God’s name is “I AM,” not “I WAS” or “I WILL BE.”
He is the ever-present help in time of trouble.
Psalm 46:1
To meet God, you do not have to look behind or peer ahead. You only need to be still and know that He is God — right here, right now.
Your healing starts today.
Your forgiveness is available now.
Your peace begins this moment.
“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
2 Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)
5. The Dangers of Missing the Present
When we refuse to live in the moment:
- We miss the beauty of God’s daily blessings.
- We develop a heart of complaint instead of contentment.
- We chase imaginary futures and become discouraged.
- We ignore the people God has put in our path today.
Remember Martha in Luke 10. She was so busy trying to serve Jesus that she missed sitting at His feet.
Jesus said,
“One thing is needful. Mary hath chosen that good part.”
Luke 10:42
Mary chose the present.
6. How to Live in the Present Spiritually
Here are 3 practical and biblical ways to stay rooted in the now:
a. Practice Gratitude
“In every thing give thanks…”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Notice what is around you and thank God for it — breath, people, provision, peace.
b. Slow Down and Listen
“Be quick to listen, slow to speak…”
James 1:19
Pause long enough to hear God in the silence and your neighbor in their need.
c. Walk with the Spirit
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
Galatians 5:25
Walking implies step-by-step obedience, not sprinting toward the future.
Conclusion: God Meets Us in the Now
Beloved, do not let the present pass you by while waiting for a perfect moment.
This is the moment.
This is the day.
This is where God’s light shines brightest.
Let the words of Psalm 118:24 anchor your heart:
“This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Not yesterday.
Not tomorrow.
Today.
Now.
Let us rejoice not because everything is perfect, but because God is present.
Prayer
Lord, teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Help us to appreciate the beauty of now. Let us not be trapped in what was or worried about what will be. Meet us here. Heal us here. Use us now. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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